London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

London County Council 1909

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Table: In the following table will be seen the number of houses, the authorised number of lodgers, the number of convictions, with the penalties inflicted, and other particulars during each year since 1894:—

In the following table will be seen the number of houses, the authorised number of lodgers, the number of convictions, with the penalties inflicted, and other particulars during each year since 1894:—

Year.No. of houses on register.Authorised number of lodgers.No. of day visits by inspectors.No. of night visits.No. of prosecutions.No. of convictions.Penalties and costs.No. of cases of infectious disease.
£s.d.
1902971,6652,842-----
19031021,7481,95642111607
1904901,5851,2981033117010
1905771,5091,509155591361
1906841,5511,431389843702
1907821,5502,1697087381905
1908851,5712,081783324006
1909801,5241,98384761500-

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In the year 1909 proceedings before the magistrate were instituted in seven instances, resulting
in six convictions, the penalties amounting to £7 18s. and £7 2s. costs.

Table: On the 31st December, 1909, the total number of seamens lodging-houses under supervision was 80, situated in the following metropolitan boroughs

On the 31st December, 1909, the total number of seamens lodging-houses under supervision was 80, situated in the following metropolitan boroughs

Metropolitan borough.Houses.Lodgers.
Poplar18401
Stepney611,097
Woolwich126
Total801,524

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Houses Let in Lodgings.
In London there were approximately some 24,000 houses let in lodgings regulated by by-laws made
under section 94 of the Public Health (London) Act. These houses are (apart from those which are
common lodging-houses) occupied by the poorest class of the London population and the special powers
which are given by that section for their maintenance in clean and wholesome condition are the
most valuable of any which can be exercised by sanitary authorities for this purpose. In the past
considerable difficulties have arisen in connection with the administration of these powers owing to
legal decisions, by which particular by-laws have been declared ultra vires. In 1909, in an appeal
case " Arlidge v. Islington Borough Council," a by-law relating to cleansing was declared to be unreasonable,
inasmuch as it required the landlord of lodging-houses to cause the house to be cleansed,
although he might not be able to do this without committing a trespass. Hence, this by-law was
rendered invalid. To meet this difficulty a provision (section 16) was included in the Housing and
Town Planning Act (see page 78), which appears to provide a sufficient remedv.

Table: In the following table are shown the nnmber of houses let in lodgings on the registers ot the sanitary authorities, and the number of inspections and of proceedings under the by-laws relating to such houses :— Registered houses let in lodgings.

In the following table are shown the nnmber of houses let in lodgings on the registers ot the sanitary authorities, and the number of inspections and of proceedings under the by-laws relating to such houses :— Registered houses let in lodgings.

Sanitary area.Number of places.No. of Inspections, 1909.No. of Notices, 1909.No. of Prosecutions, 1909.
On register at end of 1908.Added in 1909.Removed in 1909.On register at end of 1909.
City of London291510286† 333—
Battersea123——1233871149
Bermondsey22449219881* 5—
† 84—
Bethnal Green51723235172,323659—
Camberwell21737—254804* 100—
† 356—
Chelsea589—6583147* 8—
v 124—
Deptford2694—273——
Finsbury1,224—11,223* 46—
† 1,422—
Fulham114——114———
Greenwich2444—68* 1—
† 42

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*For overcrowding. †For other conditions.
(Continued on next page.)